Filling-feeler for looms



March 30, 1937. 5w, BARRETT 2,075,775

FILLING FEELER FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 12, 1955 g fimdma (5y WMW,

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,075,775 FILLING-FEELERQ" FOR LooMs Edwin W. Barrett, BarringtongR. .I., assignorto Warren Textile and Machinery Supply 00., Warren, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,057

6 Claims.

The invention relates to filling-feelers for use in automatic looms for the purpose of detecting the approachof exhaustion of the working supply of filling occupying the shuttle, and of calling into action the automatic replenishing mechanism just prior to such exhaustion to renew the working filling supply in season to prevent the end .of, the old filling from being left intermediate the width of the fabric being woven.

The invention relates in particular to sideslipping filling-feelers, and has as its object the provision of a novel and improved filling-engaging end or feeler tip for feelers of this type having advantages over prior constructions in simplicity of construction and operation, certainty of performance, ease and cheapness of construction, long wear, and lightness and harmlessness of its contact against the wound mass of filling.

A toothed filling-engaging surface on the feeler tip has been found to give the desired result of holding on the turns of filling on the bobbin but slipping on the surface of the bobbin when bared. To provide such a toothed surface cheaply and easily without having to contend with sharp edges cutting or abrading the filling, I utilize as heretofore a coil spring of round wire presented to the filling with its axis generally parallel to the bobbin, and the invention provides novel and improved methods of mounting and holding such coil spring in working relation on the feeler tip simply and securely, with the ends of its component wire shielded from cutting the filling, as made plain hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and end views respectively of the improved filling-engaging member or tip.

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and end views, respectively, of an alternative form of tip.

Fig. 5 is still another form of tip.

A novel method of constructing the filling-engaging portion or tip of the feeler member is employed to attain a wear-proof surface which will not damage even the most delicate yarns but will have the requisite frictional qualities. The feeler member 21, of round stock, has a portion at its rearward end bent to extend lengthwise of the bobbin occupying the shuttle on the lay and thus to be presented fiatwise to the filling. Throughout the greater part of its length, this portion is reduced in diameter as by turning it down on an axis either concentric with, as in Fig. 5, or as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, eccentric to and displaced a slight distance forwardly or rearwardly from the true axis of this portion, so that intheform of Figs. 1 and 2 the new surface merges .into the old at the front, and a helical spring 53, previously wound, hardened, and tempered, and having an internal diameter normal- 1y slightly less than thecross-sectional diameter of said reduced portion is placed thereon. To provide simple means for retaining this spring 53 positively against escape, the terminus of the feeler tip is left of full diameter for a length not materially longer than the spacing between adjacent turns of the spring; the enlargement thus left exists only at the top, rear and bottom sides of the feeler tip of Figs. 1 and 2, merging into the cylindrical contour of the eccentric cutaway portion at the front. This full-diameter portion 55 is: made to serve as a male thread by entering it between the turns of the spring at one end of the latter and thereafter screwing the spring into place on the intermediate reduced portion of the feeler tip; likewise in the form of Figs. 3 and 4. In the concentric form of Fig. 5, this flange is broken by a cut 56, for the same purpose. Thus the spring is installed without harmful expanding stresses so that it hugs the reduced portion tightly. The length of the spring is preferably chosen with respect to the length of the reduced portion so that it presses tightly against the opposing shoulders 55 and 51 defining the ends of the reduced portion; by reason of this engagement, and of the tight fit of the coils about the reduced portion, there is no relative movement of the spring or any of its coils in use, with resultant elimination of all wear of the metallic surfaces thus in contact; but if desired the spring may be turned slightly at intervals around the axis of the reduced portion if ever any perceptible Wear on the fillingengaging surfaces of the coils should arise. The beveled ends of the spring, undistorted and hugging the reduced portion closely, and in the forms of Figs. 1, 2, and 5 shielded by the shoulders 55, 51, can never get loose to cut the filling. The tip of Figs. 3 and 4, having the turns of the spring in full relief at the filling-engaging surface, -is for use on hard bobbins.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:-

1. In a side-slipping feeler, a filling-engaging tip comprising a portion presented fiatwise to the filling, such portion being terminated at each end by a shoulder of greater transverse extent than the intervening portion, and a helical spring having an internal diameter normally less than the cross-sectional diameter of said portion, surrounding said portion in coaxial relation and held from relative movement in use by its tight fit about said portion and by the engagement of its ends with the said shoulders.

2. In a side slipping filling-feeler, a filling-engaging tip comprising a rod having a portion presented flatwise to the filling, this portion being turned down intermediate its length to a reduced diameter, and a helical spring surrounding the reduced part, the full-diameter terminus of said portion being adapted to enter between the turns of the helical spring like a male thread to lead the spring to its seat on the reduced part when being installed thereon.

3. In a side-slipping filling-feeler, a filling-engaging tip comprising a rod having a portion presented fiatwise to the filling, a spring-stop at one end of such portion, a helical spring surrounding such portion, and an enlargement at the other end of such portion extending around the portion less than the entire circuit thereof.

4. A filling-engaging element for side-slipping feelers comprising a feeler member having a portion presented'fiatwise to the wound mass of filling, such portion being cut away intermediate its length at and about the side thereof presented to the filling so as to leave a shoulder of full diameter at each end of the cut-away intermediate portion, and a helical spring surrounding the cutaway portion and substantially flush with the filling-engaging surfaces of the full-diameter portions which terminate the cut-away portion.

5. In a side-slipping feeler, in combination, a filling-engaging tip comprising a laterally extending portion having a projection extending transversely of such portion at each end, and a helically coiled wire coaxially surrounding such portion and confined thereon by engagement with the said projections.

6. In a side-slipping feeler, in combination, a filling-engaging tip comprising a rod having a portion presented flatwise to the filling, this portion being reduced in diameter intermediate its ends, and a helical spring surrounding such reduced part and retained thereon by engagement of the ends of the spring with the full-diameter parts at opposite ends of the reduced part.

EDWIN W. BARRETT. 

